Top 7 Exterior Cleaning Mistakes Homeowners Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Maintaining your home’s exterior in Cody, Wyoming takes more than good intentions. With the wind, dust, snow, and sun we get in the Big Horn Basin, it’s easy to make a mess or even cause damage when trying to clean things up. While DIY cleaning can save money, doing it wrong often costs more in the long run.

Here are the most common mistakes we see homeowners make — and how to avoid them.

1. Using Too Much Pressure

Pressure washers are great tools — until they strip paint, etch siding, or blow seals on windows. Not every surface is designed to handle the same PSI. For example, stucco, painted wood, and asphalt shingles can all be seriously damaged by aggressive washing.

The fix: let professionals assess what PSI and nozzle type are safe for your home. We adjust equipment based on surface type, weather conditions, and buildup severity.

2. Cleaning in Freezing Temperatures

Cody’s spring and fall weather can be unpredictable. A sunny day might tempt you to wash your siding or windows — but if temps dip below freezing afterward, leftover water can freeze in cracks, causing expansion and damage.

Frozen water in siding gaps or window seals can create major repair headaches. Play it safe and avoid cleaning below 40°F unless you’re using winter-safe methods (we do).

3. Ignoring Hard Water Stains

Our local water in Cody is full of minerals. When sprinkler overspray or melted snow dries on windows, it leaves behind calcium and lime deposits that are nearly impossible to remove with basic soap and water. Letting those sit too long can permanently etch glass.

We use professional-grade solutions to safely remove mineral buildup and restore clarity to your windows — no scratches or damage.

4. Spraying Water Near Electrical Fixtures

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people hose down walls without checking for light fixtures, outlets, or camera systems. Water intrusion can fry electronics or create safety hazards. Even GFCI outlets aren’t designed to be sprayed.

Before cleaning, always identify and avoid any electrical points. We mask or cover fixtures and only use soft washing techniques in sensitive areas.

5. Forgetting the Gutters

Out of sight, out of mind — until your basement floods or your fascia board starts to rot. Dirty gutters are one of the top causes of long-term home damage in Wyoming, especially when snow melt gets trapped and refreezes.

If you’re cleaning your home’s exterior, make sure your gutter system is flowing properly too. We include a gutter check in all of our seasonal cleaning packages.

6. Using Harsh Cleaners on Landscaping

Many store-bought cleaning solutions contain bleach, ammonia, or solvents that can kill grass and damage flower beds. Rinsing off your deck with chemical cleaners may seem harmless until your lawn starts turning yellow.

We use eco-safe, biodegradable products that won’t harm pets, plants, or wildlife — especially important for rural homes in the Basin.

7. Skipping Routine Maintenance

Waiting until your home looks dirty is a mistake. Dust from high winds, bird droppings, mineral buildup, and mold spores can slowly degrade your surfaces even if they “don’t look that bad.”

Establishing a maintenance schedule — especially in spring and fall — keeps your siding, decks, and windows in better shape and reduces the cost of deep cleaning later.

The Local Advantage

Cody’s climate makes exterior maintenance a unique challenge. What works in milder states doesn’t always apply here. Between hard water, windstorms, and freezing nights, you need a team that understands the local conditions.

At Freedom Exterior Services, we’ve seen it all — and fixed it all. Our team uses the right pressure, products, and techniques to get results without risk. Whether you need a one-time deep clean or a recurring service plan, we’ve got your back.